A weight belt?

[BB2K]

There are a lot of views on using a weight belt or not while training. I for one do not like using one except for heavy squats, its more mental than anything. Dr. Oz has a book out "You the owners manual" and he talks about using a weight belt. He has some very good points in there. I have read several articles from other trainers, even those that train olympic lifters, that say its bad to where a belt for the body will become reliant on it and that if we have a strong torso (core) then we really dont need a belt.


What do you say about this?

[thauncle]

This makes sense both ways. I've always been a believer that you have to have a strong core as it helps with many other areas of training. I've done heavy squats with and without a belt. The belt gives you that mental edge that without it some don't feel safe.great topic. Should be interesting to see others views on this.

[littlrook]

never use a belt. i find that between squats and deads my abs get a great workout and feel as if the belt might hinder that a bit?

[jdg76]

I never used a belt until recently. And the only time I use one is going heavy on squats. It may be more in my form, but my lower back was always sore after leg day,for a few days. It doesn't seem to bother me as bad now.
I can deal with the soreness, but when I started to use one my split was Legs,chest, and then back. And I always had to take an extra day off before back day to recouperate.

[thauncle]

I never used a belt until recently. And the only time I use one is going heavy on squats. It may be more in my form, but my lower back was always sore after leg day,for a few days. It doesn't seem to bother me as bad now.
I can deal with the soreness, but when I started to use one my split was Legs,chest, and then back. And I always had to take an extra day off before back day to recouperate.

Could be your form or you could have some back problems and not know it. I noticed my back would hurt a lil till I got my form right.

[Superflysnuka38]

I used to use a belt when I was powerlifting, but that was mainly to help me focus on correct back form. Anymore, I don't use one. Changed my lifting style, and I think that you need a strong core more than anything, and a belt isn't necessary for something like that.

[baronthedivined]

I don't use it, but people with a weaker core should definately use one

[BB2K]

I don't use it, but people with a weaker core should definately use one

True to a point, they need to focus on strengthining the core more and get rid of the belt asap. IMO.

[JohnSpartan]

A belt almost gave me a hernia a few years back, actually the only thing it is useful are weighted chins or dips

I heard from one olympic power lifter that they rarely use ones and only during competitions, when training they belive it would constrain the blood flow and actually weaker the lower back muscles and abs so it is actually worse for you.

Can't remeber using it for heavy squats recently.

But love them skinny begginers with belts on all the time even curling for bias